Story: Rugby league

All Golds, 1907

New Zealand's first rugby league team, the All Golds, are shown in 1907, the year they were formed to tour northern England and Australia. For a national team to tour internationally before the game was played at home was unusual, but the New Zealanders more than held their own. The names (perhaps the signatures) of players are written around the photo. Each player was required to contribute £50 to cover costs, and was promised a share in the profit. After expenses were paid, the British leg of the tour netted £5,641 (almost $890,000 in 2012 terms).